Officials may implement water restrictions at Normandy Lake

Many parts of Middle Tennessee received beneficial rain Tuesday, but a dry spring has left the water levels low at many local lakes.

Normandy Lake's reservoir is so low it has some people concerned about their household water supplies.

A massive drought in 2007 almost drained the water supply for many Middle Tennessee communities that rely on Normandy Lake. But this time, local leaders said the lessons they learned then will help them better manage the supply now.

"I wish it would rain a lot, but it's summertime so that may not happen," said boater Kevin Hanson.

Normandy Lake provides water for about 250,000 people in Tennessee, from Tullahoma all the way to Columbia.

"We've had two months April and May that are back to back that have record dry periods," said Doug Murphy, with the Tennessee Duck River Development Agency.

The lake's current water level is actually almost 2 feet below where it was at this point in 2007. That has many people concerned, but there's been a big change when it comes to preserving the water supply.

"The best thing that happened in 2007 is we learned some lessons," Murphy said.

After the drought, all of the groups that monitor or depend upon the reservoir for water came up with a comprehensive plan. And if things don't change, that means some actions.

"I fully expect reservoirs levels at Normandy to drop throughout the summer," Murphy said. "We are preparing to take actions mid summer, late summer, early fall to help conserve as much water as we can in that reservoir."

Hanson said he remembers the water restrictions imposed five years ago and said if the levels drop farther, he won't be surprised if the restrictions happen again.

"It should worry us all, because you got a lot of counties that get water off this lake," he said.

Murphy said the lake's drought task force is meeting regularly to make sure the right plans are in place to deal with the dwindling supply.

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